Residence for Tuition Purposes

In accordance with Texas Education Code § 54.052, the following persons shall be classified as Texas residents and will be entitled to pay in-state tuition.

Residency through High School Graduation in Texas

A person who:1

  1. Graduates from a high school in Texas or receives a GED in Texas; and
  2. Physically resides in Texas for the 36 consecutive months immediately prior to high school graduation; and
  3. Physically resides in Texas for the 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the census date of the semester in which the student enrolls in a Texas public college or university.

Residency by Establishing and Maintaining Domicile

A person who:2

  1. Independent Individuals

    1. Has established and maintained their domicile in Texas for the 12 consecutive months preceding the census date of the academic semester in which they enroll at A&M-Central Texas; and

    2. Provides more than one-half of their own financial support, and is not eligible to be claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes.
  2. Dependent Individuals

    1. Whose parent has established and maintained their domicile in Texas for the 12 consecutive months preceding the census date of the academic semester in which they enroll at A&M-Central Texas.

Residency through Prior Residency Classification and Continuous Enrollment

A person who:

  1. Was previously enrolled and classified as a Texas resident in a public institution of higher education; and

  2. Maintained continuous enrollment, or did not break enrollment for more than one regular semester.

Establishment of Domicile

Establishing domicile in Texas is presumed if, for at least 12 months prior to the census date of the semester in which he or she is to enroll, the person (or their parent if they are a dependent) resided in Texas and:

  1. Owned and occupied real property in Texas (renting a home is not ownership); or
  2. Owned and managed a “brick & mortar” business in Texas; or
  3. Was gainfully employed, including self-employment, in Texas;3 or
  4. Marriage for at least 12 months to a person who established a domicile in Texas per one of the above methods is also a basis for establishing domicile;
  5. (Military only) The service member's Home of Record with the military is Texas, or Leave and Earning Statements show the member has claimed Texas as their place of residence for the 12 consecutive months prior to enrollment.

Residency Reclassification

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure residency classification is accurate prior to registering for courses. If incorrect, it is also the student’s responsibility to ensure corrections are made before the census date of the applicable semester. Any applicant or student classified as a non-resident who wishes to be considered for reclassification as a resident must submit the Core Residency Questions. Along with the form, the applicant or student must submit supporting documentation that proves residency for tuition purposes. Oftentimes, an applicant or student will submit the Core Residency Questions and upon receipt, the Records and Admissions Office will request additional documentation specific to the way the Core Residency questions were answered.

For more information please see the College for All Texans website. 

Documentation for Residency

The following is a list of documents that may provide support to a claim of physical residence in Texas:

  1. Utility bills for the 12 consecutive months preceding the census date;
  2. Cancelled checks that reflect a Texas residence for the 12 consecutive months preceding the census date;
  3. A current credit report that documents the length and place of residence of the person or the dependent's parent to be in Texas and the length of residence to be at least 12 consecutive months preceding the census date;
  4. Texas voter registration card that was issued at least 12 months prior to the census date;
  5. Lease or rental of residential real property in the name of the person or the dependent's parent for the 12 consecutive months immediately preceding the census date;
  6. Texas high school transcript for full senior year immediately preceding the census date or a transcript from a Texas institution of higher education showing presence in the state for the 12 consecutive months preceding the census date.

 The student has the burden of proof to show by clear and convincing evidence that domicile has been established and maintained.  

1

Student visa holders are not eligible for this option for establishment of residency. An individual who is neither a US citizen, nor permanent resident must complete and submit the Residency Affidavit.

2

Students are not able to obtain residency through family members, sponsors, or individuals who are not their biological or adoptive parent, or court-appointed legal guardian, even if that person claims them on taxes or provides the majority of their financial need.

3

Employment intended to provide an income to a person or allow a person to avoid the expense of paying another person to perform the tasks (as in child care) that is sufficient to provide at least one-half of the individual’s tuition, fees and living expenses as determined in keeping with the institution’s student financial aid budget or that represents an average of at least 20 hours of employment per week. A person who is self-employed or who is living off his/her earnings may be considered gainfully employed for purposes of establishing residency, as may a person whose primary support is public assistance.

Non-Resident Tuition Waivers

Non-resident students who do not meet any of the above criteria for establishing residency for tuition purposes may be eligible to have the non-resident portion of the tuition waived,  provided waiver eligibility requirements are satisfied. We’ve provided a list of the most common non-resident tuition waivers used at A&M-Central Texas. For additional information and non-resident waiver eligibility requirements, please visit www.collegeforalltexans.com.

  • Non-Resident Tuition Waiver For Active Military Personnel, Spouses and Dependents
  • Non-Resident Tuition Waiver For Veterans, Spouses and Dependents
  • Non-Resident Tuition Waiver For Family Intent To Make Texas Home

Please Note: It is the student's responsibility to request a non-resident tuition waiver. All non-resident tuition waivers and requested documentation must be submitted prior to the beginning of the enrollment semester and no later than the official census date of the enrollment semester in order to be considered for the non-resident tuition waiver.